Thompson: Stanford's Shaw could be great fit for 49ers or Raiders

STANFORD -- Lots of time for daydreaming was available in Stanford's season-opening 45-0 spanking of UC Davis.

Between Kevin Hogan and Ty Montgomery highlights was ample time to ponder the future, analyze scenarios, concoct speculation.

About David Shaw. And the Raiders. Or the 49ers.

Yes, or course, he's expressed his love of Stanford, his alma mater. and certainly his focus is on navigating the No. 11-ranked Cardinal through what is expected to be a brutal Pac-12 Conference.

But that doesn't change the juiciness of the coincidences taking form -- the chief one being that the Raiders and the 49ers could be on the market for a head coach next year. What if ... both teams ...

Sorry. Distracted by Montgomery, a Heisman Trophy long shot, taking a punt 60 yards for a score in the first quarter. Back to speculating.

The 49ers and Jim Harbaugh agreed to shelve contract talks until after the season. Raiders coach Dennis Allen, by most accounts, needs to show serious progress to keep his job. What if a huge offer from elsewhere steals away Harbaugh and a dud of a season dooms Allen? There could be a Bay Area bidding war for Shaw.

That could be enough to get him to take the NFL carrot he's turned down several times already. He could get a raise over the $2.5 million to $3 million he is believed to be making with Stanford.

Plus he wouldn't have to uproot his wife and kids from his dreamy Bay Area lot in life.

Shaw makes perfect sense for any NFL job, especially for the local teams.

He has experience in the big show. He spent nearly a decade with the Eagles, Ravens and Raiders as quarterbacks coach, and he groomed Andrew Luck's considerable talent.

And at either job he'd have a talented young QB to grow with in Colin Kaepernick or Derek Carr. See how this is lining up so well?

Shaw played under Bill Walsh, whom he considered a mentor, and respected former pro coach Dennis Green. He is good friends with Jon Gruden. And his Stanford predecessor, Harbaugh, has been to three straight NFC Championship games. A jump up would be natural.

Shaw's track record of a hard-nosed mentality would fit well with the 49ers personnel. And that offensive mind of his might be intrigued by the schematic possibilities with the 49ers' weapons.

His development abilities have shined since he's taken over at Stanford. And discipline is a trademark of Stanford football. That's what the Raiders would need should they fall apart this year and rebuild anew.

If he leads the Cardinal to another Pac-12 title, Shaw would be an even hotter commodity. Stanford, UCLA, USC and Oregon are all ranked in the top 15 of the preseason polls.

What if Shaw's boys come out on top? What if they earn a berth in the inaugural College Football Playoff? What if he leads the program to its first national title?

Whatever the end result, it would be on top of making three straight BCS bowl games, including a 2013 Rose Bowl win. How far- fetched would it be really if Shaw decided he was ready for a new challenge?

Not nearly as far-fetched as UC Davis tackling Montgomery -- which the Aggies didn't come close to doing as he took a quick pass from Hogan and wove up the field for a 44-yard touchdown. Stanford 35-0.